ROTORCRAFT BIRD STRIKE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AVIATION RULEMAKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ARAC) November 10, 2017 Rev. B May 8, 2019 ARAC Rotorcraft Bird Strike Working Group Rev. B May 8, 2019 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 1 Assumptions ................................................................................................................................ 3 Risk-Based Approach ................................................................................................................. 4 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................. 4 Bird Strike Safety Procedures ................................................................................................. 6 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 8 Background ................................................................................................................................. 8 Data ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Windshield ............................................................................................................................ 10 Strike Reporting Rate ............................................................................................................ 13 Data Sampling Period ........................................................................................................... 15 Bird Mass .............................................................................................................................. 15 FAA’s National Wildlife Strike Database (NWSD) ............................................................. 18 Rotorcraft Strike Impact Locations ....................................................................................... 18 Phase of Flight ...................................................................................................................... 21 Time of Day .......................................................................................................................... 22 Rotorcraft Airspeed ............................................................................................................... 23 Assumptions .............................................................................................................................. 24 Document Structure .................................................................................................................. 27 TASK 1 – BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION RECOMMENDTIONS FOR PART 27 NEWLY TYPE CERTIFICATED ROTORCRAFT .................................................................................... 28 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 28 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 28 Recommendations For Part 27 Airworthiness Standards For Newly Type Certificated Rotorcraft ................................................................................................................................................... 30 TASK 2 – BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION RECOMMENDTIONS FOR PART 27 NEWLY MANUFACTURED ROTORCRAFT .......................................................................................... 31 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 31 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 31 Recommendations For Newly Manufactured Part 27 Rotorcraft ............................................. 32 ii ARAC Rotorcraft Bird Strike Working Group Rev. B May 8, 2019 TASK 3 – BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION RECOMMENDTIONS FOR PART 29 NEWLY TYPE CERTIFIED ROTORCRAFT ............................................................................................ 33 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 33 Current Rule .......................................................................................................................... 33 Data And Assumptions ............................................................................................................. 33 Fleet Groupings ..................................................................................................................... 33 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 34 Effectiveness of Current Rule ............................................................................................... 35 Recommendation for 14 CFR § 29.631 Bird Strike Regulation ............................................... 36 TASK 4 – BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION RECOMMENDTIONS FOR PART 29 NEWLY MANUFACTURED ROTORCRAFT .......................................................................................... 37 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 37 Development of Dataset ............................................................................................................ 37 Assumptions .............................................................................................................................. 37 Implementation Date ............................................................................................................. 37 Recommendations For Newly Manufactured Part 29 Rotorcraft ............................................. 38 TASK 5 – BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION RECOMMENDTIONS FOR PARTS 27 AND 29 EXISTING ROTORCRAFT ......................................................................................................... 39 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 39 Recommendations For Bird Strike Airworthiness Standards For Existing Operating Rotorcraft ................................................................................................................................................... 39 Implementation Date ............................................................................................................. 40 TASK 6 – NON-TRADITIONAL BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION RECOMMENDTIONS FOR PARTS 27 AND 29 ROTORCRAFT ........................................................................................... 41 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 41 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 41 Assumptions Used as Part of the Evaluation ........................................................................ 41 Reduced Airspeeds................................................................................................................ 41 Increased Altitudes................................................................................................................ 42 Rotorcraft Flight Manuals ..................................................................................................... 45 Flight Crew Training............................................................................................................. 45 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) .................................................................................. 46 Electronic Detection Devices ................................................................................................ 48 iii ARAC Rotorcraft Bird Strike Working Group Rev. B May 8, 2019 Paint or Rotorcraft Colors ..................................................................................................... 49 Rotorcraft Lighting ............................................................................................................... 49 Recommendations for Implementing Non-Traditional Means of Bird Strike Protection......... 50 Airspeed-Altitude Limitation ................................................................................................ 50 Personal Protective Equipment ............................................................................................. 52 Rotorcraft Lighting ............................................................................................................... 52 TASK 7 – POLICY AND GUIDANCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROTORCRAFT BIRD STRIKE PROTECTION ............................................................................................................... 53 Task Description ....................................................................................................................... 53 Recommendations For Policy And Guidance ........................................................................... 53 Proposed Part 27 Airworthiness Standards for Newly Type Certificated Rotorcraft ........... 53 Proposed Part 27 Airworthiness Standards for Newly